Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that interrupts a person’s breathing during sleep. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Blockage of the airway

Generally this occurs when the soft tissue collapses in the back of the throat during sleep. This is the most common type of apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Lack of signal from the brain instructing the body to breathe.

CSA may be triggered by certain types of medical conditions such as arthritis, encephalitis, and Parkinson's disease.

Mixed Sleep Apnea - A combination of both OSA and CSA.

Signs and Symptoms

Some of these issues may be signs of sleep apnea:

Loud snoring

Pauses in breath while sleeping

Waking up feeling short of breath

Trouble returning to sleep after waking up during the night

Restless sleep

Insomnia

Headaches in the morning

Sore throat or dry mouth when you first wake up

Sleepiness and fatigue throughout the day despite substantial sleep

Forgetfulness

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Moodiness

Who is at Risk?

Any person throughout his or her life may be effected. The following may increase your risk of suffering from sleep apnea:

Over 40 years old

Overweight

Large neck, tongue, uvula, or tonsils

Small jaw

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

Nasal blockage from allergies, deviated septum, or other sinus problems.

Family history of sleep apnea

Effects

If sleep apnea is not properly treated these serious medical conditions may occur:

Heart attack

Stroke

High blood pressure

Diabetes

Headaches

Depression

Asphyxiation

Prevention

Following a healthy lifestyle that includes a balance diet, exercise, and a regular sleep schedule may reduce your risk of being affected by sleep apnea. To further reduce your risk of being affected you may want to consider the following:

Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives that may relax the throat and constrict breathing .

Try to sleep in a position that enables you to sleep easily. Keep in mind that sleeping on your back may encourage your soft tissue to collapse and restrict your breathing.

Losing weight may alleviate stress on your neck and heart and allow you to sleep with less interruptions.

Treatment

At Distinctive Family Dental we understand that all of our patients have unique needs. We work hard to make sure that help is available for you to live the healthiest life possible.

Come in for a consultation to determine the type of sleep apnea treatment that is best suited for you.

A variety of methods may be used to get you to a point where you can sleep well through the night. Some treatments include:

Tongue Stabilizing Devices

Custom designed mouth tray

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact our friendly staff at (815) 439-1270